Method of making looped snells



.Fan. 31, 1967 L. H. MORIN 3,301,931

METHOD OF MAKING LOOPED SNELLS Filed July 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A J K I J26 I 25 g INVENTOR. 400/5 H. Mam/v HTTORA/EY 3L 1%? w Mar am 3,301,931

Filed July 30! 1965; 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lou/5 H MGR/N HTTOR/VEY United States Patent 3,301,931 1 METHOD OF MAKING LOOPED SNELLS Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N.Y., assignor 0f one-fourth to Madeline F. McGill, Denver, Colo., and one-fourth to J. R. Hanna, Bronxville, N.Y.

Filed July 30,1963, Ser. No. 298,612

Claims. (Cl. 264-145) This invention relates to shells, to one end of which fish hooks are. usually attached. More particularly, the

invention deals with a method of forming a looped end in a monofilament snell strand and, wherein, the strand is twisted or otherwise formed adjacent the looped end in forming an anchorage, the major portion of which is contained within an encapsulating element, securely maintaining the loop in operative position at all times.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a method, wherein a pair of loop forming, strand twisting and molding stations are employed in producing a successive series of looped snells and, further, wherein means are employed at the molding station for sealing ends of the encapsulating element around the twist in the strand employed.

The novelfeatures of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying: drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a loop forming station, with part of the construction broken away.

FIG. 2 is a view similar .to FIG. 1, diagrammatically illustrating thejformation of a twist in the strand at said station, with part of theconstruction broken away.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the twist shaping and molding station for formingv an encapsulating element around the formed twisted portion of the strand and also diagrammatically showing a strand trimming operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side viewillustrating the means for stripping the formed loop at the loop forming station.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the station for trimming the gate from the encapsulating element.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating pairs of loop forming, strand twisting and encapsulating element molding station in production of a successive series of looped snells; and v r H v FIG. 7 is a view, generally similar to FIG. 3, eliminating the loop forming means and showing a modified form of mold and means effecting a positive seal at ends of the formed encapsulating element.

Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, in combination with FIG. 6, the end product 10, made in accordance with my improved method, comprises a monofilament snell strand 11 of predeterminedlength, bestshown in FIG. 6, composed of nylon or other similar material as commonly used in forming snelled fish hooks One end portion of the strand 11 is fashioned to form a relatively large loop 12, with which a fish line, leader or the like is usually attached. The strand, inwardly of the loop 12, is twisted, as seen at 13 in FIG. "3 of the drawing and, intermediate ends of the twist, the twist is fashioned to form a ring-like anchorage portion or member 14. Said anchorage is larger in diameter than the diameter of the twisted strand.

At 15 I have shown an encapsulating element in the form of a molded body of suitable plastic material, such as nylon, Delrin and the like. The element 15 has rounded ends .16, which are disposed adjacent end-s of the twist 13 and an end portion "of the strandadjacent 3,301,931 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 end 22 of the mandrel to receive the strand 11 and the shaft and part of the mandrel 18 are apertured, as seen at 23, to receive a stripping tool 24, noteFIG. 4, at what might be termed a stripper station. I

In combination with the station 19, a strand gripper station 25 is arranged in alinement therewith and in predetermined spaced relationship to the mandrel 18, the station 25 including an anvil 26, generally of the form shown in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive. Working inconjunction With the anvil 26 are a pair of grippers 27 and 28 which, after the strand 11 has been passed around the mandrel 18, will securely grip the strand portions .11, as diagram matically seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, so as to firmly support the parallel portions of the strand against movement, particularly in therotation of the shaft 20 to rotate the mandrel 18 and form the twist 13 in the strand, in which operation, the shaft 20 and mandrel 18 move in the direction of theanvil 26, as diagrammatically seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

At this time, it is pointed out that the mandrel 18 and shaft 20 are spring tensioned in the direction of the arrow 29 of FIG. 1, thus, movement of the shaft 20 from FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 position is against this tensioning and this is also true of movement of the mandrel and shaft into the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing. In this latter movement, the anchorage ring 14 is automatically formed in the twisted portion 13, this action taking place by virtue of the twist formed in the strand, an action which has been known to occur in twisted strands of various types and kinds. However, with my particular method, I have found that this anchorage 14 takes place centrally between the ends of the twist and forms within the molded body or encapsulating element 15 a definite anchorage of the twisted portion within said body.

From the twisting station, as diagrammatically represented in FIG. 2, movement of the mandrel 18 and shaft 20 in the direction of the anvil 26 in forming the anchorage 14 brings the various stations in the position to re: ceive a pair of dies 30, 31 at a molding station, which have been moved into engagement with the twisted strand, asdiagrammatically seen in FIG. 3. I It will, thus, be seen that pressure injection of suitable plastic material through the gate 32 in the die 30 will form the molded encapsulating element 15, previously described, completely enveloping the twisted portion 13, as well as the anchorage 14 therein. While at the molding station, the one strand, namely the strand 11, FIG. 3, adjacent the anvil, is trimmed by a trimming tool 33 at what can be termed a trimming station. 7 v

Considering FIG. 5 of the drawing, here is a diagram: matic illustration of a pair of trimming tools '34 and a gate trimming station for removing the gate 32 from the element 15. These trimming stations can function in accordance with any desired timing and/ or relationship, depending upon the questionof whether or not'the single molding station is employed, or a pair of such stations,

vthrough the aperture 23 in removing the loo,p,12.from 'the mandrel 18; whereupon, the mandrel 18, together with the shaft 20, will return to its normal position, as illustra'ted in FIG. 1 of the drawing, with a predetermined spacing with respect to the fixed gripper station 25, this spacing controlling the length of the twist formedin the strand 11. After completing the above cycle of operation, anew strand is wound around the mandrel 18 and positioned upon the anvil 26, as diagrammatically seen in FIG. 1, and the above described operation is repeated.

In the schematic showing of FIG. 6, the dies 30', 31 at the right of FIG. 6 will identify a molding station, similar to the station having the dies 30, 31 in FIG. 3. At the left of FIG. 6, I have shown another molding station having dies 30", 31", again similar to the dies 30, 31, these molding stations being spaced apart sufficiently to provide the lengths in the strand 11 to form the end products 10. It will also be apparent that, at the molding stations in FIG. 6, there will be arranged the loop forming and strand twisting stations, which would include the anvils, as at 26, so as to form the loops 12 and the element 15 on the twisted portions of the strand, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive. No attempt is made to show the twist in the illustration of FIG. 6. The main purpose of this illustration is to indicate how a strand, such as 11, can be passed around a suitable guide rod or roller 35 and then looped around a mandrel, such as 18, at the righthandmolding station, then looped around another similar mandrel, at the station shown at the left of FIG. 6, so that, in a successive series of forming and molding operations, a series of joined products can be formed. In other words, beyond the dies at the two stations are illustrated a series of looped ends and, at a predetermined position, the trimming operation, as at station 33 in FIG. 3, can be performed, as indicated at 33' at the right of FIG. 6 and 33" at the left of FIG. 6 in forming the final end products, both of which are indicated by the reference characters at the lower portion of FIG. 6.

In a method as disclosed in FIG. 6, it will be understood that, after two end loops have been formed at the molding station, they are moved into the next adjacent position, for example, at 12' and then to a further advanced position, as indicated at 12", suitable means being provided to support the loops at these different positions and, beyond the positions 12", the trimming operations, as at 33', 33", are formed in producing the resulting looped snells, as at 10/ In the foregoing, itwill be understood that, after the formed loops 12 have moved into the 12' position, the strand 11 will be fed around the mandrels and in position over the anvils at each of .the lefthand and righthand molding stations; whereupon, the sequence of operations illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 will be performed and these operations repeated.

A sequence of operation which can be followed in carrying out the method as illustrated in FIG. 6 would be to have the monofilament feed around the mandrel at the right of FIG. 6; whereupon, the twist 13 and anchorage 14 is formed and the dies 30', 31 at the right closed to form the element 15 and during this molding operation, the twist and anchorage can be formed on the lefthand station of FIG. 6, after which, the dies 30", 31" will be closed to form the element 15 and, for this reason, the dies at the right of FIG. 6 are illustrated in open position, preparatory to the formation of the next loop on the mandrel at said station, the pro-formed loop having been moved into the position 12 in said figure and, in like manner, when the dies 30, 31' are again closed, the dies 30", 31" will be opened and the loop at the left will move into the station indicated by the loop 12'.

In FIG. 7 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification and, in this figure, the dies 36, 37 are generally similar to the dies 30, 31 of FIG. 3, the only difference being that the dies 36 and 37 have specially formed cavities, as at 38 and 39 adjacent the end portions of the twist product for its intended purposes.

13 in the strand and, in the molding operation, resilient plugs 40, 41 are arranged in the cavities 38 and 39 to form, when the dies are brought into firm engagement with each other, seals at end portions of the element 15, which operation will result in forming slight recesses 42 in the ends of the element 15. This method of procedure will effectively seal the ends of the cavities in the diesand around the twist 13 of the strand. The plugs 38 and 39 can be formed of any desired material, such, for example, as neoprene, Teflon, Kel-F, Adiprene or any other similar product capable ofwithstanding the heat of the molten material employed and forming the element 15. The method as disclosed in FIG. 7 would be desirable to prevent undue squeezingpressure of the dies upon the strand in effecting a seal, as would be the case with the. structure in FIG. 3 of the drawing. No attempt has been.

made to illustrate this pressure engagement in the accompanying drawing.

Considering FIG. 4 of the drawing, it will be apparent that, when the strand 11 is passed around the mandrel 18 preparatory to forming the loop 12, the strand is in alinement with the center of the shaft 20, so that, in rot-ation of the shaft 20, there will be no displacement of the loop portion of the strand from the mandrel. It will also be apparent from a consideration of FIG. 1 of the drawing that the strand 11, when positioned in the two stations, namely the, forming station having the mandrel 18 and the gripper station, including the anvil 26, will have the side portions thereof substantially in parallel relationship to each other.

It will be understood that the element 15, by virtue of its size and contour, namely the substantially elliptical shape, will not interfere with normal use of the end The enlarged showings in the accompanying drawing are utilized to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of forming a secure loop end on a monofilament strand, which comprises arranging a portion of the strand around a mandrel at a loop forming station with ends of the strand extending in substantially parallel relationship through a gripper station spaced with respect to, said loop forming station, gripping the strands at the gripper station while rotating said mandrel to form a twist in the strands between the mandrel and gripper station, continuingv rotation of said mandrel to form an anchorage portion in the twisted strand substantially centrally between said mandrel and said gripper station, said anchorage portion being larger in diameter than the diameter of said twisted strand, moving the.

mandrel in the direction of the gripper station during said twisting, then forming a molded encapsulating ele-' ment around the major portion of the length of the twist and anchorage portion in said strand, trimming the en-' capsulating element, and trimming one of the strand sides adjacentone end of the twist to leave the other strand side in forming a predetermined strand length extending from said formed loop in the strand.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said strand is composed of nylon, and said molded element is com-.

posed of plastic material.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein said element is formed with rounded ends.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein said between said mandrel and said gripper station, said anchorage portion being larger in diameter than the diameter of said twisted strand, moving the mandrel in the direction of the gripper station during said twisting, then moving a pair of dies into engagement with the twisted portion of said strand, then injecting molding material into cavities of the dies in forming an encapsulating element around the twist and anchorage portion in said strand, and then trimming said element and one side portion of the strand to form a resulting looped snell end product with a predetermined length of strand of said snell extending from said element.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the formed loop in said strand is ejected from said mandrel upon completion of formation of said element.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein means are provided in the dies at end portions of the cavities therein for effecting a seal of the molded element around the twist in said strand.

8. The method of forming a plurality of snells, each with a looped end, from a smell strand comprising, providing two loop forming, strand twisting and molding stations, at one of said stations arranging said strand as an open U-shaped loop, closing the thus formed loop by twisting said loop thereby forming a double strand twist between said loop and the remainder of said strand, molding an encapsulating element on a similarly formed twist adjacent a loop in said strand at the other of said stations, ejecting the loop and encapsulated twist from tion, molding an encapsulating element on the twist at said one station, ejecting the loop and encapsulated twist from said one station, and repeating the above steps to produce a series of closed loops in said strand, then cutting one of the two strands protruding from each encapsulating element on the side of the element opposite each loop.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the twisted portion of said strand at each of said stations is fashioned to form an anchorage portion completely enveloped by said element.

10. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein spacing of said stations one with respect to the other controls length of the strand extending from the loop end of the resulting product.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,684,136 9/1928 Lynch 249215 1,924,631 8/1933 Toogood 240215 2,428,275 9/ 1947 Frankwich et a1. 18-30 2,465,656 3/ 1949 Morin 264-251 2,656,581 10/1953 Gates r 249215 2,920,354 1/ 1960 Zurnlbnunner 264-251 2,959,835 11/1960 Gates 249215 3,110,088 11/1963 Blom 264 ROBERT F. WHITE, Primary Examiner.

said other station, forming from a part of the remainder 3 S. A. HELLER, G. AUVILLE, Assistant Examiners.

of said strand another loop and twist at said other sta- 

1. THE METHOD OF FORMING A SECURE LOOP END ON A MONOFILAMENT STRAND, WHICH COMPRISES ARRANGING A PORTION OF THE STRAND AROUND A MANDREL AT A LOOP FORMING STATION WITH ENDS OF THE STRAND EXTENDING IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP THROUGH A GRIPPER STATION SPACED WITH RESPECT TO SAID LOOP FORMING STATION, GRIPPING THE STRANDS AT THE GRIPPER STATION WHILE ROTATING SAID MANDREL TO FORM A TWIST IN THE STRANDS, BETWEEN THE MANDREL AND GRIPPER STATION, CONTINUING ROTATION OF SAID MANDREL TO FORM AN ANCHORAGE PORTION IN THE TWISTED STRAND SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY BETWEEN SAID MANDREL AND SAID GRIPPER STATION, SAID ANCHORAGE PORTION BEING LARGER IN DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID TWISTED STRAND, MOVING THE MANDREL IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GRIPPER STATION DURING SAID TWISTING, THEN FORMING A MOLDED ENCAPSULATING ELEMENT AROUND THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE TWIST AND ANCHORAGE PORTION IN SAID STRAND, TRIMMING THE ENCAPSULATING ELEMENT, AND TRIMMING ONE OF THE STRAND SIDES ADJACENT ONE END OF THE TWIST TO LEAVE THE OTHER STRAND SIDE IN FORMING A PREDETERMINED STRAND LENGTH EXTENDING FROM SAID FORMED LOOP IN THE STRAND. 